Indifference, corruption and obsequiousness in a government office: a property owner is inquiring about his property to an oblivious functionary who only reacts when three rubles have made it to his desk. From that point on, all is well, basted in the functionary’s obsequiousness. Puzzling though is the property owner’s puzzlement: is he not used to this? The detail of the fly repeatedly loitering on the functionary’s right nostril as the functionary extends his lower lip to blow it away is like a reflection of the property owner’s condition at that moment.